Free Web NovelChapter 312: Chapter 231: Shining Starlight (Part 2)
He immediately signaled for the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm to do so.
「A few minutes later.」
A Puppet, refined with about one-tenth of Fei Lin’s blood essence, once again entered the Nether Fire Wall.
This time, the endless Nether Fire didn’t attack it as it had the previous Puppet. Instead, the flames circled the new Puppet, forming a flame-free vacuum around it. A path appeared ahead, leading deep into the wall of fire.
But after the Puppet had gone about 100 meters into the wall, Han Ning sensed through the Spiritual Link that it was now surrounded by a patch of dark purple flame, deeper and more condensed than the outer Nether Fire.
The flames seemed to be verifying the Puppet’s identity. Then, a wisp of flame suddenly landed on the Puppet’s shoulder.
Reacting instantly, Han Ning severed the Spiritual Link.
He let out a long sigh and wiped his forehead, a trace of fear lingering from the close call.
’If that deep purple Nether Fire had actually been transmitted through the link, it would’ve been a huge problem.’
’This should work. That Puppet only had one-tenth of Fei Lin’s blood essence. Fei Lin herself should be able to go much deeper.’
"Fei Lin, let’s go. Ah Yu, stay by my side. Yin Yi, you should return for now."
Considering the limited space in the area where the flames parted, Han Ning had no choice but to recall Yin Yi to her Soul Beast Space.
"Ling~"
Yin Yi gave everyone a dejected look before reluctantly returning to her Soul Beast Space.
Han Ning opened his mouth but didn’t say anything.
’I’ve gone through so much to get here, all so Yin Yi can become stronger!’
Qingyao and Egg Pancake used the Dragon Race’s Transformation Technique, compressing their bodies to their limits. They became two tiny dragons only 50 centimeters tall, floating beside the Star Dream Unicorn.
"Fei Lin, are you ready?" Han Ning asked, looking at her as she sat on the Star Dream Unicorn’s back.
"Eee eee!" Fei Lin nodded vigorously, her pretty little face tense with nervousness.
She walked up to the wall of fire and cautiously reached out, touching the swirling flames.
WHOOSH~
In an instant, an invisible Power surged from within her body, repelling the flames that were gathering around her hand.
"Eee!"
Fei Lin let out a happy cry and immediately guided the Star Dream Unicorn inside.
As Fei Lin entered the wall of flames, the fire on all sides instantly parted, creating a clear space about three meters wide.
Though the space was narrow, it was just enough for the group to pass through.
Without hesitation, Han Ning had Fei Lin shield them as they moved quickly forward.
Soon, they reached the area burning with purple fire.
Just as before, Fei Lin first touched her hand to the purple fire.
WHOOSH~
The deep purple flames also parted without any issue.
Seeing this, Han Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The adorable Fei Lin copied her master, also letting out a sigh of relief.
The group continued onward.
「After walking for about two minutes.」
The firelight ahead gradually dimmed.
「A minute later...」
With a final whoosh, they passed through the wall of fire.
A dense array of sinister, spire-like buildings came into view.
The densely packed structures were arranged in a pyramidal formation, like the pyramids on Blue Star, tapering as they rose upwards.
At the very center of the formation’s base stood a single spire that shot straight into the sky.
Three celestial bodies—one blue, one red, and one yellow—shimmered with brilliant Starlight. They slowly revolved around the Black Tower.
An endless stream of Flowing Light cascaded down from the stars like a waterfall, bathing the Black Tower in a mesmerizing swirl of color.
Han Ning didn’t even need to search. He could tell at a glance that the tallest spire was where the treasures of the Alataku People were stored.
’The legendary marvel built entirely from Tears of the Stars!’
Otherwise, everything was silent. It was as if not a single living creature survived in the entire sprawling city.
...
Using the towering spire as a landmark, Han Ning and his group soon arrived at its base.
Surprisingly, the journey was perfectly safe; no creatures attacked them along the way.
The architecture of the Alataku People had a distinctive, macabre style. However, Han Ning was in no mood to admire the unique Otherworld structures. His only thought was to complete his mission and leave this treacherous place.
At the base of the tower stood a huge stone gate carved with the image of a ferocious Demon roaring at the sky.
"This is a side entrance to the tower, not the main gate. It leads to a place called the Meditation Hall. Hundreds of years ago, the Meditation Hall was a place for followers to rest and study." An obscure Spiritual Fluctuation suddenly echoed in Han Ning’s mind.
’Hom?’ Han Ning thought in surprise as he recognized the familiar fluctuation.
"Thanks to you... my Spiritual Power has recovered slightly." Hom’s Spiritual Power emanated from the Biological Armor on Fei Lin.
A single, bloodshot eyeball on the armor blinked slowly.
"5,300 years ago, while I was pregnant, I was captured by the Duke of Night Nether of the Alatake Clan. I was brought here to Night Nether City and became a research subject for the Alataku People... This towering spire is called the Night Nether Tower. It was built from Tears of the Stars, the essence of an otherworldly meteorite."
"Those three Stars circling in the sky are three star essences that the Duke of Night Nether collected from beyond this domain. They are treasures even more precious than Tears of the Stars," Hom explained briefly.
Han Ning glanced at Fei Lin and saw the little one looking at him in confusion, unaware that he was communicating with her mother via Spiritual Power.
The other Soul Beasts also waited quietly for his command.
"Hom... we can catch up later. Right now, I want to help my Soul Beast break through to Lord Level, and the key to that breakthrough is these Tears of the Stars. Do you know what kind of dangers might lie within the Night Nether Tower?"
"I’m sorry... I don’t know. I was only a captive..." Hom’s message came after a moment of silence. "However, I do have a basic understanding of Night Nether City’s layout. Based on my observations, the Night Nether Tower definitely contains dangerous mechanisms left behind by the Alataku People. Fei Lin’s bloodline... might not be enough."
"The Duke of Night Nether... what was his Power level, roughly?"
’Since there are dangers, I can probably infer their severity from the ruler’s own Power,’ Han Ning thought.
’If it’s not at the Monarch Level, it might be worth the risk.’
"The Duke of Night Nether... he was a high-ranking noble among the Alataku People, the Governor’s younger brother. A Tier Six—Profound Moon Level—Beast Master... His Soul Beasts were at least at the Emperor Level."
"Tier Six? Emperor Level?!" Han Ning was aghast, but then he frowned. ’That’s impossible. The Guardian Soul Beast outside was only at the Upper Lord Level... That doesn’t match the Duke of Night Nether’s standing at all.’
The disparity was like having the Great Tang Capital Chang’an defended by a squad of poorly equipped militia with abysmal military training. It didn’t make sense.
’Could it be that after so much time, a series of incidents occurred in Night Nether City? Maybe the rulers changed, and its glory faded?’
Han Ning speculated.
"...It’s possible... I’ve slumbered for so long, I’ve completely lost track of the time."
"If you only want your Soul Beast to break through, you don’t need to enter the Night Nether Tower at all. The entire city is bathed in the light of those three celestial bodies. Even without the Tears of the Stars, the Starlight they shed should be a sufficient Energy source for evolution."
Han Ning said nothing. He looked up, staring at the three bright Stars, and activated his panel’s Authentication function.
[
Substance Name: Planet Core Essence
Rarity: ???
Introduction: A condensed Star Core Fragment bathed in intense cosmic radiation, containing terrifying Star Power.
]
At the same time, Han Ning was surprised to discover that the evolution conditions for the Yin Yi Jade Hook Spirit Wood had changed slightly.
The initial requirement of Tears of the Stars now had an additional option:
[Alternative to Tears of the Stars: Bathe in the intense radiation within 30 meters of a Planet Core Essence.]
’There’s another way?’
Han Ning felt a surge of joy as he read the information on the panel.
’No matter what, I’ve finally gathered all the materials needed for Yin Yi’s evolution.’
